Okla-homey
12/14/2006, 07:19 AM
Dec 14, 1799: George Washington dies
217 years ago, on this day in 1799, George Washington, the man described by fellow soldier and Virginian Henry Lee as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen" dies at his Mount Vernon estate in Virginia.
http://aycu16.webshots.com/image/8855/2005015824712094024_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005015824712094024)
Washington is buried on the property of his home Mount Vernon
As Commander-In-Chief of the Continental Army, Washington led almost as many losing battles as he won but his successes at Trenton, Princeton and Yorktown proved pivotal for the Continental Army and the emerging nation.
http://aycu09.webshots.com/image/5728/2005055019377421540_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005055019377421540)
Washington's crypt at Mount Vernon. To the right of the arch, you can see Washinton's personal flag from the days of his command of the Continental Army.
http://aycu40.webshots.com/image/8439/2005077353980157110_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005077353980157110)
That flag looks like this when spread out.
http://aycu37.webshots.com/image/5516/2005054132696048342_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005054132696048342)
Washington is memorialized on US Army headgear today. Army black berets (worn by all non-paratroopers) utilizes a beret "flash" inspired by Washington's personal flag.
http://aycu16.webshots.com/image/8855/2005047888470215190_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005047888470215190)
In 1789, largely because of the leadership he displayed during the war, Washington was elected the first American president under the new U.S Constitution.
http://aycu08.webshots.com/image/8887/2005034100119253261_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005034100119253261)
Brass button worn by Washington supporters celebrating his presidential inauguration
An unenthusiastic political leader, Washington nevertheless recognized his unique and important role in keeping the fledgling nation together. He worked hard to reconcile competing factions within his administration and was keenly aware of setting unwritten rules of conduct for future presidents. Washington resigned in 1797 after two terms. Not only was he growing old and isillusioned with vicious partisan politics, he did not want to appear monarchical and preferred to set a precedent of transferring power peacefully.
http://aycu25.webshots.com/image/8744/2001574771737383677_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001574771737383677)
Washington in Masonic regalia
http://aycu31.webshots.com/image/7470/2001587865217520339_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001587865217520339)
George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Alexandria VA. You can usually see it out the left window on final approach to Reagan National Airport in DC.
Washington’s granddaughter remembered him as "a prisoner of his own celebrity." Abigail Adams described Washington as having "a dignity which forbids familiarity mixed with an easy affability which creates love and reverence." John Adams, who was Washington’s vice president and fellow founding father, knew intimately of Washington’s stubborn streak and once referred to his boss as "Old Muttonhead."
http://aycu11.webshots.com/image/9530/2001541050858751725_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001541050858751725)
Washington’s stubbornness and concern for protocol proved his undoing.
On December 12, 1799, he rode out into the freezing sleet to survey business affairs on his estate. He returned home late for a dinner engagement and refused to take the time to change out of his wet clothes. On December 13, he developed a severe respiratory infection and died the following day. His last words were "’Tis well."
The nation plunged into a state of mourning and Washington was eulogized by friends and political foes alike, both at home and abroad. (King George III of England once grudgingly called Washington the "greatest character of the age.") In his will, Washington referred to himself simply as "George Washington, of Mount Vernon, a citizen of the United States."
Epilogue:
As an aside, Washington did wear false teeth, but they were not wooden. Throughout most of George Washington's life he had problems of continuing deterioration of his teeth. This caused him a lot of pain, and none of the dentists he went to knew what to do besides take them out. Slowly but surely all of Washington's teeth were extracted.
http://aycu15.webshots.com/image/8974/2005021818307193249_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005021818307193249)
Today, the teeth can be viewed at the University of Maryland's National Museum of Dentistry.
In 1772, a Dr. Baker of Philadelphia extracted several. Finally, George had to have false teeth made. They were made out of hippopotamus ivory and cow's tooth, carved by hand, and held in his mouth with metal springs. These false teeth were a little large for his mouth, creating a peculiar expression, which is exhibited in many of his portraits.
This letter, written by Washington at the height of the Revolution in 1781, requests cleaning utensils for his false teeth.
http://aycu37.webshots.com/image/8316/2005037460920856755_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005037460920856755)
http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/6238/insane7zocn2.jpg
217 years ago, on this day in 1799, George Washington, the man described by fellow soldier and Virginian Henry Lee as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen" dies at his Mount Vernon estate in Virginia.
http://aycu16.webshots.com/image/8855/2005015824712094024_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005015824712094024)
Washington is buried on the property of his home Mount Vernon
As Commander-In-Chief of the Continental Army, Washington led almost as many losing battles as he won but his successes at Trenton, Princeton and Yorktown proved pivotal for the Continental Army and the emerging nation.
http://aycu09.webshots.com/image/5728/2005055019377421540_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005055019377421540)
Washington's crypt at Mount Vernon. To the right of the arch, you can see Washinton's personal flag from the days of his command of the Continental Army.
http://aycu40.webshots.com/image/8439/2005077353980157110_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005077353980157110)
That flag looks like this when spread out.
http://aycu37.webshots.com/image/5516/2005054132696048342_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005054132696048342)
Washington is memorialized on US Army headgear today. Army black berets (worn by all non-paratroopers) utilizes a beret "flash" inspired by Washington's personal flag.
http://aycu16.webshots.com/image/8855/2005047888470215190_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005047888470215190)
In 1789, largely because of the leadership he displayed during the war, Washington was elected the first American president under the new U.S Constitution.
http://aycu08.webshots.com/image/8887/2005034100119253261_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005034100119253261)
Brass button worn by Washington supporters celebrating his presidential inauguration
An unenthusiastic political leader, Washington nevertheless recognized his unique and important role in keeping the fledgling nation together. He worked hard to reconcile competing factions within his administration and was keenly aware of setting unwritten rules of conduct for future presidents. Washington resigned in 1797 after two terms. Not only was he growing old and isillusioned with vicious partisan politics, he did not want to appear monarchical and preferred to set a precedent of transferring power peacefully.
http://aycu25.webshots.com/image/8744/2001574771737383677_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001574771737383677)
Washington in Masonic regalia
http://aycu31.webshots.com/image/7470/2001587865217520339_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001587865217520339)
George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Alexandria VA. You can usually see it out the left window on final approach to Reagan National Airport in DC.
Washington’s granddaughter remembered him as "a prisoner of his own celebrity." Abigail Adams described Washington as having "a dignity which forbids familiarity mixed with an easy affability which creates love and reverence." John Adams, who was Washington’s vice president and fellow founding father, knew intimately of Washington’s stubborn streak and once referred to his boss as "Old Muttonhead."
http://aycu11.webshots.com/image/9530/2001541050858751725_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001541050858751725)
Washington’s stubbornness and concern for protocol proved his undoing.
On December 12, 1799, he rode out into the freezing sleet to survey business affairs on his estate. He returned home late for a dinner engagement and refused to take the time to change out of his wet clothes. On December 13, he developed a severe respiratory infection and died the following day. His last words were "’Tis well."
The nation plunged into a state of mourning and Washington was eulogized by friends and political foes alike, both at home and abroad. (King George III of England once grudgingly called Washington the "greatest character of the age.") In his will, Washington referred to himself simply as "George Washington, of Mount Vernon, a citizen of the United States."
Epilogue:
As an aside, Washington did wear false teeth, but they were not wooden. Throughout most of George Washington's life he had problems of continuing deterioration of his teeth. This caused him a lot of pain, and none of the dentists he went to knew what to do besides take them out. Slowly but surely all of Washington's teeth were extracted.
http://aycu15.webshots.com/image/8974/2005021818307193249_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005021818307193249)
Today, the teeth can be viewed at the University of Maryland's National Museum of Dentistry.
In 1772, a Dr. Baker of Philadelphia extracted several. Finally, George had to have false teeth made. They were made out of hippopotamus ivory and cow's tooth, carved by hand, and held in his mouth with metal springs. These false teeth were a little large for his mouth, creating a peculiar expression, which is exhibited in many of his portraits.
This letter, written by Washington at the height of the Revolution in 1781, requests cleaning utensils for his false teeth.
http://aycu37.webshots.com/image/8316/2005037460920856755_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005037460920856755)
http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/6238/insane7zocn2.jpg